Data transfer using a dual SIM phone

ABSTRACT

A first subscriber identification module (SIM) of a dual SIM device is connected to a network. A small cell is informed that the dual SIM device is a dual SIM-type device and a first radio frequency device of the dual SIM device is attached to the network. A second radio frequency device of the dual SIM device is attached to the network. The small cell is configured to treat a second SIM as a control SIM and to treat the first SIM a data SIM. User data is transferred to the first radio frequency device, a control channel switch command is sent to the dual SIM device, and control information is transferred to the second radio frequency device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the electrical, electronic,and computer arts, and more particularly relates to wireless telephony.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless telecommunications or radio access technologies (RATs)generally use licensed radio frequency spectrum for communicationsbetween mobile devices and wireless telecommunications networks. Forexample, licensed spectrum and unlicensed spectrum may be used for thirdgeneration (3G) and fourth generation (4G) wireless communications.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum is a type of unlicensedspectrum or shared spectrum which is shared between multiple entitiesincluding government users (such as the military), licensed users, andnon-licensed users. CBRS is a multi-tiered wireless band between 3.550MHz and 3.700 MHz. In particular, CBRS is a three-tiered accessframework including incumbent users (i.e., federal, military, and thelike), priority access users (winning auction bidders), and generalauthorized access users, where the general users are permitted to useany portion of the CBRS spectrum not assigned to a higher tier user andmay also operate opportunistically on unused priority access spectrum.Availability of the CBRS spectrum dynamically changes depending on useby higher priority entities. Higher tier users are protected from lowertier users using a centralized spectrum access system (SAS), which maybe a federal or commercial entity. The SAS authorizes or grants spectrumto access points known as CBRS Devices (CBSDs) and performs interferencemanagement to protect higher tier users. This protection may include,for example, dropping CBSDs which are general authorized access users.In summary, CBRS is an interference-limited network, which means thatthe performance of the network and the data sent to CBRS subscribers islimited by the amount of interference the CBRS users or subscribersexperience in the frequency band of operation.

Dual subscriber identification module (SIM) devices are mobile deviceswhich may simultaneously connect to networks using the licensed spectrumand the unlicensed spectrum. Consequently, a processor in the dual SIMdevices may perform tasks related to both connections in addition toother radio resource management tasks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Techniques are provided for utilizing a dual SIM device to transferdata, which, in one or more embodiments, is capable of utilizing bothSIMs to transfer data and control information in a coordinated manner.

In one aspect, an exemplary method includes the operations of connectinga first SIM of the dual SIM device to a network; informing a small cellthat the dual SIM device is a dual SIM-type device; attaching a firstradio frequency device of the dual SIM device to the network; attachinga second radio frequency device of the dual SIM device to the network;configuring the small cell to treat a second SIM as a control SIM and totreat the first SIM a data SIM; transferring user data to the firstradio frequency device; sending a control channel switch command to thedual SIM device; and transferring control information to the secondradio frequency device.

In one aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium comprisescomputer executable instructions which when executed by a processor of adual subscriber identification module (SIM) device cause the processorto perform operations comprising connecting a first SIM of the dual SIMdevice to a network; informing a small cell that the dual SIM device isa dual SIM-type device; attaching a first radio frequency device of thedual SIM device to the network; attaching a second radio frequencydevice of the dual SIM device to the network; configuring the small cellto treat a second SIM as a control SIM and to treat the first SIM a dataSIM; transferring user data to the first radio frequency device; sendinga control channel switch command to the dual SIM device; andtransferring control information to the second radio frequency device.

In one aspect, a dual SIM device comprises a first SIM and a second SIM;a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at leastone processor coupled to the memory and in data communication with thecontrol and data separation module, the first subscriber identificationmodule (SIM), and the second subscriber identification module (SIM);wherein the at least one processor coupled to the memory, the controland data separation module, the first subscriber identification module(SIM), and the second subscriber identification module (SIM) arecooperatively configured to perform operations comprising: connectingthe first SIM of the dual SIM device to a network; informing a smallcell that the dual SIM device is a dual SIM-type device; attaching afirst radio frequency device of the dual SIM device to the network;attaching a second radio frequency device of the dual SIM device to thenetwork; configuring the small cell to treat the second SIM as a controlSIM and to treat the first SIM a data SIM; transferring user data to thefirst radio frequency device; sending a control channel switch commandto the dual SIM device; and transferring control information to thesecond radio frequency device.

In one aspect, a system for transferring information in a dual data modecomprises: a network; one or more one dual subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) devices; and at least one base station, each base stationcomprising a look-up table for identifying dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) devices that are connected, via the network,to the base station corresponding to the look-up table.

As used herein, “facilitating” an action includes performing the action,making the action easier, helping to carry the action out, or causingthe action to be performed. Thus, by way of example and not limitation,instructions executing on one processor might facilitate an actioncarried out by instructions executing on a remote processor, by sendingappropriate data or commands to cause or aid the action to be performed.For the avoidance of doubt, where an actor facilitates an action byother than performing the action, the action is nevertheless performedby some entity or combination of entities.

One or more embodiments of the invention or elements thereof can beimplemented in the form of an article of manufacture including a machinereadable medium that contains one or more programs which when executedimplement one or more method steps set forth herein; that is to say, acomputer program product including a tangible computer readablerecordable storage medium (or multiple such media) with computer usableprogram code for performing the method steps indicated. Furthermore, oneor more embodiments of the invention or elements thereof can beimplemented in the form of an apparatus (e.g., a dual SIM device)including a memory and at least one processor that is coupled to thememory and operative to perform, or facilitate performance of, exemplarymethod steps. Yet further, in another aspect, one or more embodiments ofthe invention or elements thereof can be implemented in the form ofmeans for carrying out one or more of the method steps described herein;the means can include (i) specialized hardware module(s), (ii) softwareand/or firmware module(s) stored in a tangible computer-readablerecordable storage medium (or multiple such media) and implemented on ahardware processor, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); any of(i)-(iii) implement the specific techniques set forth herein. The meansdo not include a transmission medium per se or a disembodied signal perse.

Techniques of the present invention can provide substantial beneficialtechnical effects. For example, one or more embodiments provide one ormore of:

coordinated use of SIMs in dual SIM devices for data transfer;

increased quality of service and quality of user experience forsubscribers;

low data transmission latency which improves the quality of servicedelivered to subscribers;

increased security through the use separate transmission of the controlchannel;

better control channel coverage due to separation of data and controlchannels; and

increased data bandwidth by dedicating a SIM of the dual SIM device touser data.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example citizens broadband radio service(CBRS) network and a licensed spectrum with dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) devices, in accordance with an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a CBRS device (CBSD), inaccordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a device, in accordance withan example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a first example of a dual SIM device, inaccordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a second example of a dual SIM device, inaccordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a third example of a dual SIM device, inaccordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 7A shows a resource grid according to the prior art.

FIG. 7B shows a resource grid, in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 7C presents a flowchart of an example workflow for techniques ormethods for transferring data using dual SIM devices, in accordance withan example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a system that can implement at least someaspects of the invention, and is representative, for example, of aspectrum access system and/or one or more of the servers shown in thefigures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the terminology “computer” or “computing device”includes any unit, or combination of units, capable of performing anymethod, or any portion or portions thereof, disclosed herein. Forexample, the “computer” or “computing device” may include at least oneor more processor(s).

As used herein, the terminology “processor” indicates one or moreprocessors, such as one or more special purpose processors, one or moredigital signal processors, one or more microprocessors, one or morecontrollers, one or more microcontrollers, one or more applicationprocessors, one or more central processing units (CPU)s, one or moregraphics processing units (GPU)s, one or more digital signal processors(DSP)s, one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASIC)s,one or more application specific standard products, one or more fieldprogrammable gate arrays, any other type or combination of integratedcircuits, one or more state machines, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, the terminology “memory” indicates any computer-usableor computer-readable medium or device that can tangibly contain, store,communicate, or transport any signal or information that may be used byor in connection with any processor. For example, a memory may be one ormore read-only memories (ROM), one or more random access memories (RAM),one or more registers, low power double data rate (LPDDR) memories, oneor more cache memories, one or more semiconductor memory devices, one ormore magnetic media, one or more optical media, one or moremagneto-optical media, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, the terminology “instructions” may include directions orexpressions for performing any method, or any portion or portionsthereof, disclosed herein, and may be realized in hardware, software, orany combination thereof. For example, instructions may be implemented asinformation, such as a computer program, stored in memory that may beexecuted by a processor to perform any of the respective methods,algorithms, aspects, or combinations thereof, as described herein.Instructions, or a portion thereof, may be implemented as a specialpurpose processor, or circuitry, that may include specialized hardwarefor carrying out any of the methods, algorithms, aspects, orcombinations thereof, as described herein. In some implementations,portions of the instructions may be distributed across multipleprocessors on a single device, on multiple devices, which maycommunicate directly or across a network such as a local area network, awide area network, the Internet, or a combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “application” refers generally to a unit ofexecutable software that implements or performs one or more functions,tasks or activities. For example, applications may perform one or morefunctions including, but not limited to, telephony, web browsers,e-commerce transactions, media players, travel scheduling andmanagement, smart home management, entertainment, and the like. The unitof executable software generally runs in a predetermined environmentand/or a processor.

As used herein, the terminology “determine” and “identify,” or anyvariations thereof includes selecting, ascertaining, computing, lookingup, receiving, determining, establishing, obtaining, or otherwiseidentifying or determining in any manner whatsoever using one or more ofthe devices and methods are shown and described herein.

As used herein, the terminology “example,” “the embodiment,”“implementation,” “aspect,” “feature,” or “element” indicates serving asan example, instance, or illustration. Unless expressly indicated, anyexample, embodiment, implementation, aspect, feature, or element isindependent of each other example, embodiment, implementation, aspect,feature, or element and may be used in combination with any otherexample, embodiment, implementation, aspect, feature, or element.

As used herein, the terminology “or” is intended to mean an inclusive“or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is unless specified otherwise,or clear from context, “X includes A or B” is intended to indicate anyof the natural inclusive permutations. That is if X includes A; Xincludes B; or X includes both A and B, then “X includes A or B” issatisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, thearticles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appendedclaims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unlessspecified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to asingular form.

Further, for simplicity of explanation, although the figures anddescriptions herein may include sequences or series of steps or stages,elements of the methods disclosed herein may occur in various orders orconcurrently. Additionally, elements of the methods disclosed herein mayoccur with other elements not explicitly presented and described herein.Furthermore, not all elements of the methods described herein may berequired to implement a method in accordance with this disclosure.Although aspects, features, and elements are described herein inparticular combinations, each aspect, feature, or element may be usedindependently or in various combinations with or without other aspects,features, and elements.

Further, the figures and descriptions provided herein may be simplifiedto illustrate aspects of the described embodiments that are relevant fora clear understanding of the herein disclosed processes, machines,manufactures, and/or compositions of matter, while eliminating for thepurpose of clarity other aspects that may be found in typical similardevices, systems, compositions and methods. Those of ordinary skill maythus recognize that other elements and/or steps may be desirable ornecessary to implement the devices, systems, compositions and methodsdescribed herein. However, because such elements and steps are wellknown in the art, and because they do not facilitate a betterunderstanding of the disclosed embodiments, a discussion of suchelements and steps may not be provided herein. However, the presentdisclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements,variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would beknown to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art in light of thediscussion herein.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems using a subscriberidentification module (SIM) radio controller when dual SIM devices areconnected to a network. In one example embodiment, the unlicensedspectrum may be a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum whichis controlled by a spectrum access system (SAS). In one exampleembodiment, the radio controller may be implemented in one SIM of thedual SIM device. In one example embodiment, the radio controller may runas part of the dual SIM device operating system. In one exampleembodiment, the radio controller may run as part of the kernel softwareon the dual SIM device. In one example embodiment, the radio controllermay be provided on the dual SIM device as firmware. The method mayimprove user experience when using the CBRS spectrum for data and voiceconnectivity and communications. In one example embodiment, a serviceprovider may provision the dual SIM device with one SIM for operationwith control information and one SIM for operation with user data. It isworth noting that embodiments are not limited to CBRS.

In one example embodiment, the SIM radio controller may scan availablenetworks including CBRS Devices (CBSD) and base stations, connect to anetwork based on a set of parameters, run voice and data applications,and manage paging and network messages. In one example embodiment, theset of parameters may include signal strength of the network, availablecapacity of the network, number of users in the network, and requiredQoS for data, voice, and other applications. In one example embodiment,the SIM radio controller may proactively check a current networkconnection and potential connections to ensure connectivity and QoSperformance.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example citizens broadband radio service(CBRS) network 1100 and a licensed spectrum with dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) devices, in accordance with an exampleembodiment. In one example embodiment, an architecture 1000 includes aCBRS network 1100 which provides wireless coverage. The CBRS network1100 includes CBSDs 1110, 1120, and 1130. In one example embodiment, theCBSDs 1110, 1120, and 1130 form a cluster that is controlled by acontroller 1105. The number of clusters and the number of CBSDs isillustrative and the architecture 1000 may include more or fewerclusters and each cluster may include more or fewer CBSDs. Thearchitecture 1000 includes an SAS 1200 which is connected to or incommunication (collectively “in communication with”) with each of theCBSDs 1110, 1120, and 1130, or the controller 1105 when appropriate.

In one example embodiment, the architecture 1000 includes a licensedspectrum network 1300 which provides wireless coverage. The licensedspectrum network 1300 includes base stations 1310 and 1320. The numberof base stations is illustrative and the architecture 1000 may includemore or fewer base stations. The base stations 1310 and 1320 are incommunication with a core network 1330, which includes a mobilitymanagement entity (MME) 1332, a serving gateway 1334, and a packet datanetwork (PDN) gateway 1336. The core network 1330 is in communicationwith a network 1340, which includes, for example, the Internet, andwhich is in communication with a memory/storage 1350.

A dual SIM device 1400 is in communication with one of the CBSDs 1110,1120, and 1130, and/or one of the base stations 1310 and 1320. The dualSIM device 1400 includes a control and data separation module (CDSM)1410, as described more fully below in conjunction with FIGS. 4-6. Thecommunications between the dual SIM device 1400, particular CBSDs 1110,1120, and 1130, the SAS 1200, the controller 1105 when applicable,particular base stations 1310 and 1320, the core network 1330, thenetwork 1340, and the memory/storage 1350, as appropriate andapplicable, include, for example, wired communications, wirelesscommunications, or a combination thereof. In one example embodiment, thearchitecture 1000 executes the techniques described in FIG. 7C. Thearchitecture 1000 is illustrative and may include additional, fewer ordifferent devices, entities, and the like which may be similarly ordifferently architected without departing from the scope of thespecification and claims herein. Moreover, the illustrated devices mayperform other functions without departing from the scope of thespecification and claims herein.

The CBSDs 1110, 1120, and 1130 can include a base station, an accesspoint, an access node, or like device which enables radio communicationsaccess between, for example, the dual SIM device 1400 and other devices.Each CBSD 1110, 1120, and 1130 can, for example, be authorized andgranted spectrum allocation by the SAS 1200 (which can be communicatedvia the controller 1105, for example). Each CBSD 1110, 1120, and 1130can, for example, have sectors which provide wireless communicationscoverage. In one or more embodiments, a database and lookup table areincluded as part of the CBSD software.

The base stations 1310 and 1320 can include, for example, a node-B, anevolved node-B, an access point, an access node or like device whichenables radio communications access between, for example, the dual SIMdevice 1400 and other devices. Each base station 1310 and 1320 can, forexample, have sectors which provide wireless communications coverage. Inone example embodiment, the base stations 1310 and 1320 include adatabase that includes a device look-up table (e.g., in a persistentstorage of a computing device such as described with respect to FIG. 8).The device look-up table includes an identifier for each deviceconnected with the corresponding base station 1310, 1320, an indicationof whether the corresponding device has dual SIM devices, and anindication of whether the corresponding device is operating in the dualdata mode, as described more fully below. The information in the devicelook-up table may be utilized to allocate network bandwidth to the basestations 1310 and 1320 based on the type of devices connected to thecorresponding base station 1310 and 1320 and the mode of operation ofthe device, such as the dual data mode.

In one example embodiment, the CBSDs 1110, 1120, and 1130 are owned andoperated by the service provider, and the base stations 1310 and 1320are owned by a multiple systems operator (MSO) and operated by theservice provider. That is, the CBRS network 1100 and the licensedspectrum network 1300 are operated by the same service provider. Otherembodiments can have different ownership and/or operating arrangements.

The dual SIM device 1400 includes, by way of example but not limitation,end user devices, cellular telephones, Internet Protocol (IP) devices,mobile computers, laptops, handheld computers, PDAs, personal mediadevices, smartphones, notebooks, notepads, phablets and the like whichinclude two SIMs and at least one radio. In one or more embodiments, oneSIM of the dual SIM device 1400 is provisioned for operation with theCBRS network 1100 and the other SIM is provisioned for operation withthe licensed spectrum network 1300. Although, both SIMs could beprovisioned to work with CBRS, one or more embodiments use one SIM onlyfor data and other SIM only for control information.

The SAS 1200 enables access to the CBRS spectrum and dynamically managesthe spectrum for optimal use, efficiency, and compliance with CBRSrules. The SAS 1200 communicates with each CBSD for registration, grantallocation/deallocation and interference management. In some instances,the SAS 1200 performs interference analysis based on power measurements.

Operationally, and as described in detail hereinbelow, the SAS 1200grants spectrum to each activated CBSD, such as the CBSDs 1110, 1120,and 1130 and establishes a wireless coverage of CBRS network 1100. Inone example embodiment, the communication is via the controller 1105.Base stations 1310 and 1320 establish a wireless coverage of licensedspectrum network 1300.

A dual SIM device, i.e., the dual SIM device 1400 can be connected to aCBSD, such as CBSDs 1110, 1120, and 1130, using, for example, a firstradio. A SIM level task scheduler, which can be implemented in a CBRSprovisioned SIM of the dual SIM device 1400 or can be implemented in thedual SIM device 1400, creates an inventory of services running on thedual SIM device 1400 and determines QoS levels for each service. The SIMradio controller initiates scanning of other CBSDs 1110, 1120, and 1130and base stations 1310 and 1320 to determine signal strengths. In oneexample embodiment, the signal strength measurements are performed bythe SIM that is not being used. The signal strengths can, for example,be Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal ReceivedQuality (RSRQ), or other power measurement metrics. The SIM radiocontroller saves network connection measurements that are stronger thana current network connection plus a defined delta or offset. This can,for example, be saved by the SIM radio controller in the dual SIM device1400.

The dual SIM device 1400 can, at the behest of the SIM radio controller,measure real-time QoS being experienced by the dual SIM device 1400. Inone example embodiment, the measurements are done using the connectedSIM and radio. The SIM radio controller then compares the measured QoSagainst a required QoS.

The SIM radio controller directs a second radio, for example, to connectto a second network, such as, for example, the licensed spectrum network1300 via base stations 1310 and 1320 and can share the first radiosettings with the second radio. The second radio can share the firstradio settings with licensed spectrum network 1300, for example. A corenetwork 1330 of the licensed spectrum network 1300 starts fetching datafrom the Internet 1340 and memory/storage 1350 based on the consumedtraffic in the first radio, for example. The fetched data is cached, forexample, at one of the base stations 1310 and 1320.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example device 2000, in accordance withan example embodiment. The device 2000 includes, but is not limited to,a processor 2100, a memory/storage 2300, a communication interface 2200,applications 2400, a radio frequency device 2500, and an antenna system2600. In one example embodiment, the communication interface 2200includes a fiber optic port for connecting to the Internet. The device2000 can include or implement, for example, any of the CBSDs 1110, 1120,and 1130, and the base stations 1310 and 1320 using the antenna system2600. In one example embodiment, the memory/storage 2300 caches the dataprior to sending to a new network connection. The applicable orappropriate SIM radio controller techniques or methods using dual SIMdevices as described herein are stored in the memory/storage 2300 andexecuted by the processor 2100 in cooperation with the memory/storage2300, the communications interface 2200, the applications 2400, and theradio frequency device 2500 as appropriate. The device 2000 may includeother elements which may be desirable or necessary to implement thedevices, systems, compositions and methods described herein (e.g. bus orother coupling) but the same will be apparent to the skilled artisan,given the teachings herein, and are omitted to avoid clutter.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example device 3000, in accordance withan example embodiment. The device 3000 includes, but is not limited to,a processor 3100, a memory/storage 3200, a communication interface 3300,and applications 3400. In one example embodiment, the communicationinterface 3300 includes a fiber optic port for connecting to theInternet. In an exemplary implementation, the device 3000 includes aradio frequency device 3500. The device 3000 can include or implement,for example, the controller 1105 and the SAS 1200. In an implementation,the memory/storage 3200 stores the interference map, spectrumallocations, and other information. The applicable or appropriate SIMradio controller techniques or methods using dual SIM devices asdescribed herein are stored in the memory/storage 3200 and executed bythe processor 3100 in cooperation with the memory/storage 3200, thecommunications interface 3300, the applications 3400, and the radiofrequency device 3500 (when applicable) as appropriate. The device 3000may include other elements which may be desirable or necessary toimplement the devices, systems, compositions and methods describedherein (e.g. bus or other coupling) but the same will be apparent to theskilled artisan, given the teachings herein, and are omitted to avoidclutter.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a first example of a dual SIM device 4000,in accordance with an example embodiment. The device 4000 includes, butis not limited to, a processor 4100, a memory/storage 4200, acommunication interface 4300, applications 4400, a radio frequencydevice 4500, a first SIM 4600, a SIM radio controller 4650, a second SIM4700, and the control and data separation module 1410. The device 4000can include or implement, for example, the dual SIM device 1400including the control and data separation module 1410. In one exampleembodiment, the memory/storage 4200 stores the required QoS, measuredQoS, user settings and the like. The applicable or appropriate SIM radiocontroller techniques or methods using dual SIM devices as describedherein are stored in the memory/storage 4200 and executed by the SIMradio controller 4650 and the processor 4100 in cooperation with thememory/storage 4200, the communications interface 4300, the applications4400, the radio frequency device 4500, the first SIM 4600, and thesecond SIM 4700 as appropriate. In one example embodiment, the first SIM4600 and the second SIM 4700 are provisioned for operation withunlicensed spectrum, CBRS spectrum or the like as operated by a serviceprovider, or with another MSO. In one example embodiment, the first SIM4600 and the second SIM 4700 operate on a time slotted basis with theradio frequency device 4500. In one example embodiment, the SIM radiocontroller 4650 is implemented as a combination of software and firmwareas part of the first SIM 4600. In one example embodiment, the SIM radiocontroller 4650 is implemented as a combination of software and firmwareas part of the second SIM 4700. In one example embodiment, SIM radiocontroller 4650 is implemented as a combination of software and firmwareas part of the SIM provisioned for operation with the unlicensedspectrum. In one example embodiment, the SIM radio controller 4650 isimplemented as a combination of software and firmware as part of the SIMprovisioned for operation with the CBRS spectrum. In one exampleembodiment, the control and data separation module 1410 is implementedas a combination of software and hardware, and manages and coordinatesthe transmission and reception of data using one of the SIMs 4600, 4700and the transmission and reception of control information using theother of the SIMs 4600, 4700. In one example embodiment, the control anddata separation module 1410 is implemented as software running on theprocessor 4100 and/or the SIM radio controller 4650, using thememory/storage 4200, the communication interface 4300, the applications4400, and the radio frequency device 4500. The SIM radio controller 4650and the control and data separation module 1410 implement the methodsand techniques described herein, such as for example, with respect toFIGS. 7A-7C. The device 4000 can include other elements which may bedesirable or necessary to implement the devices, systems, compositionsand methods described herein (e.g. bus or other coupling) but the samewill be apparent to the skilled artisan, given the teachings herein, andare omitted to avoid clutter.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a second example of a dual SIM device 5000,in accordance with an example embodiment. The device 5000 includes, butis not limited to, a processor 5100, a memory/storage 5200, acommunication interface 5300, applications 5400, a first radio frequencydevice 5500, a first SIM 5600, a SIM level task scheduler or SIM radiocontroller 5650, a second radio frequency device 5700, a second SIM5800, and the control and data separation module 1410. The device 5000can include or implement, for example, the dual SIM device 1400including the control and data separation module 1410. In one exampleembodiment, the memory/storage 5200 stores the required QoS, measuredQoS, user settings and the like. The applicable or appropriate SIM radiocontroller techniques or methods using dual SIM devices as describedherein are stored in the memory/storage 5200 and executed by the SIMradio controller 5650 and the processor 5100 in cooperation with thememory/storage 5200, the communications interface 5300, the applications5400, the first radio frequency device 5500, the first SIM 5600, thesecond radio frequency device 5700, and the second SIM 5800 asappropriate. In one example embodiment, the first SIM 5600 isprovisioned for operation with unlicensed spectrum, CBRS spectrum or thelike as operated by a service provider, and the second SIM 5800 isprovisioned with another MSO or the like but operated by the serviceprovider. In one example embodiment, the first SIM 5600 operates withthe first radio frequency device 5500 and the second SIM 5800 operateswith the second radio frequency device 5700. In one example embodiment,the SIM radio controller 5650 is implemented as a combination ofsoftware and firmware as part of the first SIM 5600; alternatively, theSIM radio controller 5650 is implemented as a combination of softwareand firmware as part of the SIM provisioned for operation with theunlicensed spectrum, or the SIM radio controller 5650 is implemented asa combination of software and firmware as part of the SIM provisionedfor operation with the CBRS spectrum. In one example embodiment, thecontrol and data separation module 1410 is implemented as a combinationof software and firmware, and manages and coordinates the transmissionand reception of data using one of the SIMs 5600, 5800 and thetransmission and reception of control information using the other of theSIMs 5600, 5800. In one example embodiment, the control and dataseparation module 1410 is implemented as software running on theprocessor 5100 and/or the SIM radio controller 5650, using thememory/storage 5200, the communication interface 5300, the applications5400, the first radio frequency device 5500, and the second radiofrequency device 5700. The SIM radio controller 5650 and the control anddata separation module 1410 may implement the methods and techniquesdescribed herein, such as for example, with respect to FIGS. 7A-7C. Thedevice 5000 can include other elements which may be desirable ornecessary to implement the devices, systems, compositions and methodsdescribed herein (e.g. bus or other coupling) but the same will beapparent to the skilled artisan, given the teachings herein, and areomitted to avoid clutter.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a third example of a dual SIM device 6000,in accordance with an example embodiment. The device 6000 includes, butis not limited to, a processor 6100, a memory/storage 6200, acommunication interface 6300, applications 6400, a first radio frequencydevice 6500, a first SIM 6600, a second radio frequency device 6700, asecond SIM 6800, the control and data separation module 1410, and a SIMradio controller 6900. The device 6000 can include or implement, forexample, the dual SIM device 1400 including the control and dataseparation module 1410. In one example embodiment, the memory/storage6200 stores the required QoS, measured QoS, user settings and the like.The applicable or appropriate SIM radio controller techniques or methodsusing dual SIM devices as described herein are stored in thememory/storage 6200 and executed by the SIM radio controller 6900 andthe processor 6100 in cooperation with the memory/storage 6200, thecommunications interface 6300, the applications 6400, the first radiofrequency device 6500, the first SIM 6600, the second radio frequencydevice 6700, and the second SIM 6800 as appropriate. In one exampleembodiment, the first SIM 6600 is provisioned for operation withunlicensed spectrum, CBRS spectrum or the like as operated by a serviceprovider, and the second SIM 6700 is provisioned with another MSO or thelike but operated by the service provider. In one example embodiment,the first SIM 6600 operates with the first radio frequency device 6500and the second SIM 6800 operates with the second radio frequency device6700. In one example embodiment, the SIM radio controller 6900 isimplemented as a combination of software and firmware as part of thedual SIM device. In one example embodiment, the control and dataseparation module 1410 is implemented as a combination of software andhardware, and manages and coordinates the transmission and reception ofdata using one of the SIMs 6600, 6800 and the transmission and receptionof control information using the other of the SIMs 6600, 6800. In oneexample embodiment, the control and data separation module 1410 isimplemented as software running on the processor 6100 and/or the SIMradio controller 6900, using the memory/storage 6200, the communicationinterface 6300, the applications 6400, the first radio frequency device6500, and the second radio frequency device 6700. The SIM radiocontroller 6900 and the control and data separation module 1410implement the methods and techniques described herein, such as forexample, with respect to FIGS. 7A-7C. The device 6000 can include otherelements which may be desirable or necessary to implement the devices,systems, compositions and methods described herein (e.g. bus or othercoupling) but the same will be apparent to the skilled artisan, giventhe teachings herein, and are omitted to avoid clutter.

In one example embodiment, both SIMs are connected to the same network,the same Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), the same sector, and thesame frequency band, and each SIM is used for a different channel:either a data channel or a control channel. One SIM is used to transfercontrol information to and from the dual SIM device 1400 and the otherSIM is used to transfer user data to and from the dual SIM device 1400.Since the SIMs are able to communicate with each other, the SIM for thecontrol channel can send data to the SIM for the user data, and viceversa.

In LTE, information is transmitted to the SIM devices in a resource gridformat. The control information, which describes the location of userdata inside the recourse grid that is sent via the Physical DownlinkShared Channel (PDSCH), is signaled to the SIM device with the PhysicalDownlink Control Channel (PDCCH). All resource grid resources sent tothe radio of the data channel contain user data; thus, more user data istransmitted as the space conventionally dedicated to control informationis used for user data. In addition, since control information is nottransmitted all the time, once the control information is sent to thecontrol SIM, the SIM for the control channel can be turned off. In oneexample embodiment, once the control information is sent to the controlSIM, the SIM for the control channel is used to transfer user data,thereby further improving the total throughput of the device.

FIG. 7A shows a conventional resource grid 7080. FIG. 7B shows adual-SIM resource grid 7090, in accordance with an example embodiment.As illustrated in FIG. 7A, control information is conventionally sent ina first portion 7084 of the resource grid 7080 and user data isconventionally sent in a second portion 7088 of the resource grid 7080.All of the data in the resource grid 7080 is handled by a single SIM. Inone example embodiment, control information in a first portion 7094 ofthe resource grid 7090 is handled by a first SIM and user data sent in asecond portion 7098 of the resource grid 7090 is handled by a secondSIM. Thus, the bandwidth available for user data is increased.

FIG. 7C is a flowchart of an example workflow 7000 for techniques ormethods for transferring data using dual SIM devices, in accordance withan example embodiment. For illustrative purposes, the elements for FIG.6 are referred to below, but the workflow 7000 could equally beimplemented with the corresponding elements of FIG. 4 or 5. In oneexample embodiment, following a power-on phase, the first SIM 6600 ofthe device 6000 connects to the CBRS network 1100 (operation 7004) andinforms the small cell that device 6000 is a dual SIM phone (operation7008). The first SIM 6600 is authenticated and the first radio frequencydevice 6500 attaches to the CBRS network 1100 (operation 7012). Whilethe first SIM 6600 of the device 6000 is connected to the CBRS network1100, the second SIM 6800 is authenticated through the CBRS network 1100and prepares to send and receive data (the second radio frequency device6700 attaches to the CBRS network 1100) (operation 7016). Once the dualSIM authentication is completed, the second radio frequency device 6700in the phone is turned on and attaches to the CBRS network 1100 usingthe same phone international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) andinternational mobile equipment identity (IMEI) as the first radiofrequency device 6500 (operation 7020). The small cell will recognizethat there are two registrations with the same IMSI and IMEI, and willself-configure to treat the second SIM 6800 as a control SIM and totreat the first SIM 6600 a data SIM (or vice versa) (operation 7024).The small cell sends user data to the first radio frequency device 6500associated with the first SIM 6600 (operation 7028) and the small cellsends a “Control Channel Switch” command to the device 6000, indicatingthat the phone should ask for the control information from the secondradio frequency device 6700 since the small cell is configured to notsend the control information to the first radio frequency device 6500(operation 7032). After the device confirms the “Control Channel Switch”action (operation 7036), the control information is transferred via thesecond radio frequency device 6700 and the data is transferred via thefirst radio frequency device 6500 (operation 7040). This is referred toas the dual data mode herein. The phone will use the PDCCH and othercontrol information transmitted to the control SIM (the second SIM 6800and second radio frequency device 6700) to find the location of the datain the resource grid transmitted to the data SIM (the first SIM 6600 andthe first radio frequency device 6500). In one or more embodiments, theapplication is unaware of the data transfer mechanism; the approach isapplication-agnostic. In some instances, a control channel switchcommand is used to stop the first SIM 6600 from receiving controlchannel information and for directing the second SIM 6800 to receivecontrol channel information, and the second SIM 6800 is used to receivecontrol channel information only. The second SIM 6800 confirms the‘control channel switch’ by sending confirmation message as in FIG. 7C(operation 7036).

Given the discussion thus far, it will be appreciated that, an exemplarymethod for transferring data using a dual SIM device 6000 comprisesconnecting a first SIM 6600 of the dual SIM device 6000 to a network1100 (operation 7004); informing a small cell that the dual SIM device6000 is a dual SIM-type device (operation 7008); attaching a first radiofrequency device 6500 of the dual SIM device 6000 to the network 1100(operation 7012); attaching a second radio frequency device 6700 of thedual SIM device 6000 to the network 1100 (operation 7016); configuringthe small cell to treat a second SIM 6800 as a control SIM and to treatthe first SIM 6600 a data SIM (operations 7020 and 7024); transferringuser data to the first radio frequency device 6500 (operations 7028 and740); sending a control channel switch command to the dual SIM device6000 (operation 7032); and transferring control information to thesecond radio frequency device 6700 (operation 7040).

In one aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium comprisescomputer executable instructions which when executed by a processor of adual subscriber identification module (SIM) device cause the processorto perform operations comprising connecting a first SIM 6600 of the dualSIM device 6000 to a network 1100 (operation 7004); informing a smallcell that the dual SIM device 6000 is a dual SIM-type device (operation7008); attaching a first radio frequency device 6500 of the dual SIMdevice 6000 to the network 1100 (operation 7012); attaching a secondradio frequency device 6700 of the dual SIM device 6000 to the network1100 (operation 7016); configuring the small cell to treat a second SIM6800 as a control SIM and to treat the first SIM 6600 a data SIM(operations 7020 and 7024); transferring user data to the first radiofrequency device 6500 (operations 7028 and 740); sending a controlchannel switch command to the dual SIM device 6000 (operation 7032); andtransferring control information to the second radio frequency device6700 (operation 7040).

In one aspect, a dual SIM device comprises a first SIM and a second SIM;a control and data separation module; a memory; and at least oneprocessor coupled to the memory and in data communication with thecontrol and data separation module, the first subscriber identificationmodule (SIM), and the second subscriber identification module (SIM);wherein the at least one processor coupled to the memory, the controland data separation module, the first subscriber identification module(SIM), and the second subscriber identification module (SIM) arecooperatively configured to perform operations comprising: connecting afirst SIM 6600 of the dual SIM device 6000 to a network 1100 (operation7004); informing a small cell that the dual SIM device 6000 is a dualSIM-type device (operation 7008); attaching a first radio frequencydevice 6500 of the dual SIM device 6000 to the network 1100 (operation7012); attaching a second radio frequency device 6700 of the dual SIMdevice 6000 to the network 1100 (operation 7016); configuring the smallcell to treat the second SIM 6800 as a control SIM and to treat thefirst SIM 6600 a data SIM (operations 7020 and 7024); transferring userdata to the first radio frequency device 6500 (operations 7028 and 740);sending a control channel switch command to the dual SIM device 6000(operation 7032); and transferring control information to the secondradio frequency device 6700 (operation 7040).

In one example embodiment, a location of the user data in a resourcegrid 7090 is determined based on the control information. In one exampleembodiment, a same phone international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)is used for the first SIM 6600 and the second SIM 6800 and a sameinternational mobile equipment identity (IMEI) is used for the first SIM6600 and the second SIM 6800. In one example embodiment, the user dataand the control information are transferred simultaneously for at leasta portion of a transmission of the user data. In one example embodiment,the connecting of the first SIM 6600 of the dual SIM device 6000 to thenetwork 1100 further comprises authenticating, by the network 1100, thefirst SIM 6600 (operation 7012).

In one example embodiment, the control and data separation module 1410comprises software and the operations are performed by the processor4100, 5100, 6100. In one example embodiment, the control and dataseparation module 1410 comprises software and the operations areperformed by a separation processor of the control and data separationmodule 1410. In general, as used herein, when it is stated that the atleast one processor coupled to the memory, the control and dataseparation module, the first subscriber identification module (SIM), andthe second subscriber identification module (SIM) are cooperativelyconfigured to perform operations, the operations can be performed by anyone, some, or all of the components individually or in cooperation.

In one example embodiment, a system 1000 for transferring information ina dual data mode comprises: a network 1100; one or more one dualsubscriber identification module (SIM) devices 1400; and at least onebase station 1310, 1320, each base station 1310, 1320 comprising alook-up table for identifying dual subscriber identification module(SIM) devices 1400 that are connected, via the network, to the basestation 1310, 1320 corresponding to the look-up table.

System and Article of Manufacture Details

The invention can employ hardware aspects or a combination of hardwareand software aspects. Software includes but is not limited to firmware,resident software, microcode, etc. One or more embodiments of theinvention or elements thereof can be implemented in the form of anarticle of manufacture including a machine readable medium that containsone or more programs which when executed implement such step(s); that isto say, a computer program product including a tangible computerreadable recordable storage medium (or multiple such media) withcomputer usable program code configured to implement the method stepsindicated, when run on one or more processors. Furthermore, one or moreembodiments of the invention or elements thereof can be implemented inthe form of an apparatus including a memory and at least one processorthat is coupled to the memory and operative to perform, or facilitateperformance of, exemplary method steps.

Yet further, in another aspect, one or more embodiments of the inventionor elements thereof can be implemented in the form of means for carryingout one or more of the method steps described herein; the means caninclude (i) specialized hardware module(s), (ii) software module(s)executing on one or more general purpose or specialized hardwareprocessors, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii); any of (i)-(iii)implement the specific techniques set forth herein, and the softwaremodules are stored in a tangible computer-readable recordable storagemedium (or multiple such media). The means do not include transmissionmedia per se or disembodied signals per se. Appropriate interconnectionsvia bus, network, and the like can also be included.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a system 8000 that can implement at leastsome aspects of the invention, and is representative, for example, ofthe spectrum access system 1200 and/or one or more of the servers shownin the figures. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the spectrumaccess system 1200 could be implemented as a stand-alone server, asshown in FIG. 1, or could be a cloud implementation including one ormore servers which could be virtualized with a hypervisor, as desired.As shown in FIG. 8, memory 8030 configures the processor 8020 toimplement one or more methods, steps, and functions (collectively, shownas process 8080 in FIG. 8). The memory 8030 could be distributed orlocal and the processor 8020 could be distributed or singular. Differentsteps could be carried out by different processors.

The memory 8030 could be implemented as an electrical, magnetic oroptical memory, or any combination of these or other types of storagedevices. It should be noted that if distributed processors are employed,each distributed processor that makes up processor 8020 generallycontains its own addressable memory space. It should also be noted thatsome or all of computer system 8000 can be incorporated into anapplication-specific or general-use integrated circuit. For example, oneor more method steps could be implemented in hardware in an ASIC or viaa field-programmable gate array (FPGA) rather than using firmware.Display 8040 is representative of a variety of possible input/outputdevices (e.g., keyboards, mice, and the like). Every processor may nothave a display, keyboard, mouse or the like associated with it.

As is known in the art, part or all of one or more aspects of themethods and apparatus discussed herein may be distributed as an articleof manufacture that itself includes a tangible computer readablerecordable storage medium having computer readable code means embodiedthereon. The computer readable program code means is operable, inconjunction with a computer system (including, for example, the dual SIMdevice 6000 or the like), to carry out all or some of the steps toperform the methods or create the apparatuses discussed herein. Acomputer readable medium may, in general, be a recordable medium (e.g.,floppy disks, hard drives, compact disks, EEPROMs, or memory cards) ormay be a transmission medium (e.g., a network including fiber-optics,the world-wide web, cables, or a wireless channel using time-divisionmultiple access, code-division multiple access, or other radio-frequencychannel). Any medium known or developed that can store informationsuitable for use with a computer system may be used. Thecomputer-readable code means is any mechanism for allowing a computer toread instructions and data, such as magnetic variations on a magneticmedia or height variations on the surface of a compact disk. The mediumcan be distributed on multiple physical devices (or over multiplenetworks). As used herein, a tangible computer-readable recordablestorage medium is defined to encompass a recordable medium, examples ofwhich are set forth above, but is defined not to encompass atransmission medium or disembodied signal.

The computer systems and servers and other pertinent elements describedherein each typically contain a memory that will configure associatedprocessors to implement the methods, steps, and functions disclosedherein. The memories could be distributed or local and the processorscould be distributed or singular. The memories could be implemented asan electrical, magnetic or optical memory, or any combination of theseor other types of storage devices. Moreover, the term “memory” should beconstrued broadly enough to encompass any information able to be readfrom or written to an address in the addressable space accessed by anassociated processor. With this definition, information on a network isstill within a memory because the associated processor can retrieve theinformation from the network.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that one or more embodiments of thepresent invention can include a computer program product comprisingcomputer program code means adapted to perform one or all of the stepsof any methods or claims set forth herein when such program is run, forexample, on the dual SIM device 6000; a virtualized or non-virtualizedhardware server implementing, or the like, and that such program may beembodied on a tangible computer readable recordable storage medium. Asused herein, including the claims, unless it is unambiguously apparentfrom the context that only server software is being referred to, a“server” includes a physical data processing system (for example, system8000 as shown in FIG. 8) running one or more server programs. It will beunderstood that such a physical server may or may not include a display,keyboard, or other input/output components. Furthermore, as used herein,including the claims, a “router” includes a networking device with bothsoftware and hardware tailored to the tasks of routing and forwardinginformation.

Furthermore, it should be noted that any of the methods described hereincan include an additional step of providing a system comprising distinctsoftware modules embodied on one or more tangible computer readablestorage media. All the modules (or any subset thereof) can be on thesame medium, or each can be on a different medium, for example. Themodules can include any or all of the components shown in the figures(e.g. modules/sub-modules to implement the components in FIGS. 1-6). Themethod steps can then be carried out using the distinct software modulesof the system, as described above, executing on one or more hardwareprocessors (e.g., one or more hardware processors of the dual SIM device6000 and/or other depicted components). Further, a computer programproduct can include a tangible computer-readable recordable storagemedium with code adapted to be executed to carry out one or more methodsteps described herein, including the provision of the system with thedistinct software modules.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that one or more embodiments of theinvention can include a computer program including computer program codemeans adapted to perform one or all of the steps of any methods orclaims set forth herein when such program is implemented on a processor,and that such program may be embodied on a tangible computer readablerecordable storage medium. Further, one or more embodiments of thepresent invention can include a processor including code adapted tocause the processor to carry out one or more steps of methods or claimsset forth herein, together with one or more apparatus elements orfeatures as depicted and described herein.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may bemade by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transferring data using a dualsubscriber identification module (SIM) device, the method comprising theoperations of: connecting a first subscriber identification module (SIM)of the dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device to a network;informing a small cell that the dual subscriber identification module(SIM) device is a dual SIM-type device; attaching a first radiofrequency device of the dual subscriber identification module (SIM)device to the network; attaching a second radio frequency device of thedual subscriber identification module (SIM) device to the network;configuring the small cell to treat the second subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) as a control subscriber identification module (SIM) and totreat the first subscriber identification module (SIM) as a datasubscriber identification module (SIM); transferring user data to thefirst radio frequency device; sending a control channel switch commandto the dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device; andtransferring control information to the second radio frequency device.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the user data in aresource grid based on the control information.
 3. The method of claim1, further comprising using a same phone international mobile subscriberidentity (IMSI) for the first subscriber identification module (SIM) andthe second subscriber identification module (SIM) and using a sameinternational mobile equipment identity (IMEI) for the first subscriberidentification module (SIM) and the second subscriber identificationmodule (SIM).
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user data and thecontrol information are transferred simultaneously for at least aportion of a transmission of the user data.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the connecting of the first subscriber identification module(SIM) of the dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device to thenetwork further comprises authenticating, by the network, the firstsubscriber identification module (SIM).
 6. A dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) device comprising: a first subscriberidentification module (SIM) and a second subscriber identificationmodule (SIM); a control and data separation module; a memory; and atleast one processor coupled to said memory and in data communicationwith said control and data separation module, said first subscriberidentification module (SIM), and said second subscriber identificationmodule (SIM); wherein said at least one processor coupled to saidmemory, said control and data separation module, said first subscriberidentification module (SIM), and said second subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) are cooperatively configured to perform operationscomprising: connecting the first subscriber identification module (SIM)of the dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device to a network;informing a small cell that the dual subscriber identification module(SIM) device is a dual SIM-type device; attaching a first radiofrequency device of the dual subscriber identification module (SIM)device to the network; attaching a second radio frequency device of thedual subscriber identification module (SIM) device to the network;configuring the small cell to treat the second subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) as a control subscriber identification module (SIM) and totreat the first subscriber identification module (SIM) as a datasubscriber identification module (SIM); transferring user data to thefirst radio frequency device; sending a control channel switch commandto the dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device; andtransferring control information to the second radio frequency device.7. The dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device of claim 6,the operations further comprising locating the user data in a resourcegrid based on the control information.
 8. The dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) device of claim 6, the operations furthercomprising using a same phone international mobile subscriber identity(IMSI) for the first subscriber identification module (SIM) and thesecond subscriber identification module (SIM) and using a sameinternational mobile equipment identity (IMEI) for the first subscriberidentification module (SIM) and the second subscriber identificationmodule (SIM).
 9. The dual subscriber identification module (SIM) deviceof claim 6, wherein the user data and the control information aretransferred simultaneously for at least a portion of a transmission ofthe user data.
 10. The dual subscriber identification module (SIM)device of claim 6, wherein the control and data separation modulecomprises software and the operations are performed by the processor.11. The dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device of claim 6,wherein the control and data separation module comprises software and aseparation processor, and the operations are performed by a separationprocessor.
 12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprisingcomputer executable instructions which when executed by a processor of adual subscriber identification module (SIM) device cause the processorto perform operations comprising: connecting a first subscriberidentification module (SIM) of the dual subscriber identification module(SIM) device to a network; informing a small cell that the dualsubscriber identification module (SIM) device is a dual SIM-type device;attaching a first radio frequency device of the dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) device to the network; attaching a secondradio frequency device of the dual subscriber identification module(SIM) device to the network; configuring the small cell to treat asecond subscriber identification module (SIM) as a control subscriberidentification module (SIM) and to treat the first subscriberidentification module (SIM) as a data subscriber identification module(SIM); transferring user data to the first radio frequency device;sending a control channel switch command to the dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) device; and transferring control informationto the second radio frequency device.
 13. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 12, the operations further comprising locatingthe user data in a resource grid based on the control information. 14.The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, the operationsfurther comprising using a same phone international mobile subscriberidentity (IMSI) for the first subscriber identification module (SIM) andthe second subscriber identification module (SIM) and using a sameinternational mobile equipment identity (IMEI) for the first subscriberidentification module (SIM) and the second subscriber identificationmodule (SIM).
 15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim12, wherein the user data and the control information are transferredsimultaneously for at least a portion of a transmission of the userdata.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12,wherein the connecting of the first subscriber identification module(SIM) of the dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device to thenetwork further comprises authenticating, by the network, the firstsubscriber identification module (SIM).
 17. A system for transferringinformation in a dual data mode, the system comprising: a network; aplurality of dual subscriber identification module (SIM) devices; and atleast one base station, the at least one base station comprising alook-up table for identifying those of the plurality of dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) devices that are connected, via the network,to the base station corresponding to the look-up table, the look-uptable including an indication that at least one of the dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) devices is operating in a dual data modewherein control information is handled by a first SIM of the device anduser data is handled by a second SIM of the device, the first and secondSIMS both being connected to the network.
 18. A system for transferringinformation in a dual data mode, the system comprising: a network; oneor more one dual subscriber identification module (SIM) devices; and atleast one base station, each base station comprising a look-up table foridentifying dual subscriber identification module (SIM) devices that areconnected, via the network, to the base station corresponding to thelook-up table; wherein the dual subscriber identification module (SIM)device comprises a first subscriber identification module (SIM) and asecond subscriber identification module (SIM); and a control and dataseparation module.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the dualsubscriber identification module (SIM) device further comprises: amemory; and at least one processor coupled to said memory and in datacommunication with said control and data separation module, said firstsubscriber identification module (SIM), and said second subscriberidentification module (SIM); wherein said at least one processor coupledto said memory, said control and data separation module, said firstsubscriber identification module (SIM), and said second subscriberidentification module (SIM) are cooperatively configured to performoperations comprising: connecting the first subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) of the dual subscriber identification module (SIM) deviceto a network; informing a small cell that the dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) device is a dual SIM-type device; attachinga first radio frequency device of the dual subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) device to the network; attaching a second radio frequencydevice of the dual subscriber identification module (SIM) device to thenetwork; configuring the small cell to treat the second subscriberidentification module (SIM) as a control subscriber identificationmodule (SIM) and to treat the first subscriber identification module(SIM) as a data subscriber identification module (SIM); transferringuser data to the first radio frequency device; sending a control channelswitch command to the dual subscriber identification module (SIM)device; and transferring control information to the second radiofrequency device.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the connecting ofthe first subscriber identification module (SIM) of the dual subscriberidentification module (SIM) device to the network further comprisesauthenticating, by the network, the first subscriber identificationmodule (SIM).